Phonograph



March 5, 1929.

R. RODRIGUEZ PHONOGRAP'H Filed April 11, 1924 2 Sheets-Sheet l March 5, 1929. R. RODRIGUEZ PHONOGRAPH Filed April 11, 192'4 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Patented Mar. 5, 1929.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

PHON OGRAPH.

Application led April 11,

My invention relates to phonographs and has for its object to provide a portable phonograph of novel construction and having sound reproducing qualities equal in character and volume to those machines which are of the nonportable type. A further object of the invention is to provide a portable phonograph so arranged and constructed as to be easily carried about and to accommodate a supply of records and to protect the movable parts against damage. Other objects will appear from the description hereinafter and the features of novelty will be pointed out in the claims.

In the accompanying drawings, which illustrate examples of the invention without defining its limits, Fig. 1 is a plan view of the phonograph with the cover removed; Figs. 2 and 3 are sectional views on the lines 22 and 3--3 of Fig. 1 respectively; Fig. 4l. is a view similar to Fig. 1 showing the phonograph and a supply of records ready to'bc transported; Fig. 5 is a section on the line 5 5 of Fig. 4; Fig. 6 is an enlarged fragmentary section on the line 6-6 of Fig. 4; Fig. 7 is an enlarged detail section showing a device for supporting the tone-arm in an inoperative position; Fig. 8 an enlarged fragmentary section on the line 8-8 of Fig. 4 and Fig. 9 is an enlarged perspective view of a sound deflecting device forming part of the phonograph.

The phonograph comprises a case 10 of suitable material and provided with a cover 11 preferably hinged at 12 and locked in its closed position in any convenient manner7 as by mea-ns of conventional locking clasps l13 as shown in Fig. 3. The case and cover are of such dimensions as to be easily carried and may be provided with a suitable handle or its equivalent to facilitate carrying of the instrument. A horizontal platform or partition 14 is located within the casing 10 and supports the customary spring actuated mechanism 15 whereby the record is operated; the arbor 16 of the mechanism 15 projects upwardly beyond the partition 14 and carries the rotatable table 17 in the well known Way. In the operation of the instrument the table 17 carries the record 18 as in any phonograph of the disc record type, the record 18 co-operating with a reproducer 19 and its needle 20 in the customary manner to reproduce the subject matter of said record. The reproducer 19 is fixed upon the one end of a tone arm 21 of any conventional 1924. Serial No. 705,803.

type and having its other end rotatably mounted upon the partition 14 in registry with an aperture therein.

Upon its lower surface the partition 14 is provided with a sound amplifying chamber 22 which is secured in place in any convenient way and includes a tubular sleeve 23 fitted into the aforesaid aperture of the partition 14 and establishing communication between the interior of the tone arm 21 and the interior of the amplifying chamber 22. The latter is preferably constructed of a suitable metal and of curved form or trough-shape in cross-section as shown in Fig. 3 and is of such major length as to extend throughout approximately the entire width of the case 10 in one direction as shown in Fig. 2; in the preferred form the amplifying chamber 22 gradually and progressively increase in dimensions from the end at which the sleeve 23 is located toward its opposite end so as to have a divergent, flaring form, as shown in Fig. 2. The chamber 22 is provided with a plurality of tone-outlets, for instance in the form of tubular members 24 fitted into apertures in the partition 14 and extending upwardly through the same. Upon the upper surface of the partition lll a corresponding number of deflecting devices 25 are fixed in registry with the tubular member 211; said devices 25, as shown in Fig. 9 are cylindrical in form and hollow and are provided with closed ends 26 and with exit slots 27 in their circumferential walls, preferably at diametrically opposite points as shown in Fig. l.

With the construction set forth the sound from the reproducer 19 passes Ythrough the tone arm 21 and the sleeve 23 to the interior of t-he sound amplifying chamber 22. Because of the curved and flaring form of the latter the sound is amplified and as such reaches the devices 25 and passes out through the exit openings 27 of the latter in a large number of individualized waves; the latter are deflected evenly in all directions with the result that the audible sound is a voluminous and pure reproduction of the record 18. To permit the escape of sound from the instrument when the cover 11 is closed, the latter may be provided with apertures 28 as shown in Figs. 2, 3, and 5. The cover may thus be utilized to reduce the sound volume of the reproduction.

In order to prevent the table from falling o the arbor 16 when the phonograph is being carried about or otherwise transported,

locking members 28v are provided. These members are carried by rods 29 slidably mounted in the partition 14 and acted up on by coil springs 30 Ywhich press with. one end.

against the partition 14 and Vwith the other end engage projections 31 fixed upon the rods 29; suitable handles 32 may be provided upon the rods 29 for manipulating the lool;- ing members 28.

'In their operative positions 'the latter project over the table 17 as shown in 5 and thus, by the action of the springs 30, clamp the table upon the. arbor 16; in order to prevent the members 28 from being unintentionally shifted to inoperative positions in which the table is released, pins 33 may be located upon said members 28 so as to depend therefrom and project into recesses 24 forme at the proper points in the partition 14. V] hen it isV desired to release the table 17, the rods 29 arelifted by the handles 32 against the tension of the springs 30 until the pins are removed from the recesses 24; the rods 29 are then turned about their axes a 'distan suflicientto more the members 28 ont o gagement With the table 17 and to bring pins 33 into registry With additional recesses 35 located as shown in Fig. 4. rhe pins 3 are then inserted into said recesses 35 or per mitted to snap into the same by the action o the springs 30.

For the purpose of Vfixing the tone arm 21 and its reproducer 19 against movement Whi le the phonograph is in transit, a resilient or spring clip 36 may be provided; in the illustrated example the clip 36 forms part of an arm or bracket 37 Which is mounted at the proper point in the casing 10 as shown in the drawings. This clip V33 is constructed and arranged to embrace the t-one arm 21 as shown in Fig. 4 and thereby clamp it in place against swinging movement and when it is desired to play a record, the tone arm 21 is simply forced out of said clip 36 against its resiliency. 1n the preferred arrangement the bracket 37 is pivotally mounted at 37a upon the casing 10 so asto be capable of being swung out of the Way When the phonograph is being played. If desired a means may be provided for lool'- ing said bracket against pivotal movement. This means, as shown in Fig. 7, may comprise a pin 37b adapted to be inserted through registering openings in the bracket 37 and its support respectively; to prevent loss the pin 37b may be secured to the casing 10 by a chain 37 c. A securing device, in the for n of a spring clasp 38 is located Within the easing 10 and serves to clamp the Winding-crank 39 against movement when the phonograph is being carried about or lotherwise transported.

With the arrangements set forth the nievable parts of the phonograph are held against movement at Will, the Winding crank being fixed in a position in which it is readily available when requested.

In the illust-rated example means is provided for carrying a supply of records 18 in a convenient and safe manner, available for use when desired and so as to avoid the necessity for transporting said records in an independent package or carrier. As shown the means referred to comprises a carrier 40 preferably circular in form and of a diameter Vslightly in excess of that of the table 17. In

the drawings the carrier V4() is shown in the form of a rino' the Weight thereof beingthus reduced to a minimum. The carrier 40 isV provi ded with a plurality of supporting members 41 projecting perpendicularly to said carrier, preferably from the periphery thereof, as shown in Figs. 4, 5 and 6... When the carrying means is utilized in the phonograph, the lcarrier 40 thereof is placed over tue table 17 in which position it is supported by theymembers 41 Vupon the partition 14 as shown in Fig. 5. The members 41 are dimensioned so as to position the carrier 40 at a distance from the table 17 in order that the latter may be free from any engagement thereifiith. To fix the carrier 40 in place the members 41 each provided With an aperture 42 adapted to receive the end of a locking screw 43 as shown in Fig. 6; the locking screws 43 are mounted in lugs 44 secured upon the partition 14 at the proper places. 1t Will be understood that the lugs 44 correspond in number to the number of supporting members 41 with which the carrier 40 is provided and that said lugs are located so as to register with said supporting members 41 and to be in close proximity thereto when the carrying means is in place as shown in Fig. 6. The latter may easily be released' when desired by simply manipulating the locking screws 43 in a direction to Withdraw the ends thereof from the apertures 42 of the members 41. Obviously, the illustrated means for locking the carrying means in po-` sition may be replaced by other devices whereby an equivalent result is attained.

As shown in Figs. 4, 5 and 6 a supply of records 18 is placed upon the carrier 40 and is fastened in place thereon in any convenient manner so as to be easily released when required for use. In the illustrated example the record-fastening means comprises a plurality of straps 45 permanently secured at one end to the carrier 40 and adapted to be buckled over the stack of records 18 as shown in Figs. 4 and 5. With these arrangements a supply of records is compactly secured in the casing 10 so as to be easily carried about with the phonograph. I

1i.When it is desired to play the latter, the screws 43 are first Withdrawn from the apertures 42 after which the carrier 40 with the stack of records 18 st-rapped thereon is removed from the casing 10; the straps 45 may then be unbuckled and the records thus released for use. It will be noted that, in addition to its other functions, the carrier 40 may be utilized to support the records 18 outside of the casing and Within convenient reach for playing purposes.

The invention provides anfeasily portable phonograph having reproducing qualities equal to a phonograph of the non-portable type and including features whereby the diticulties of carrying about an instrument of the indicated class with its full equipment, including records, are entirely overcome.

Various changes in the specific form shown and described may be made Within the scope of the claims Without departing from i the spirit of the invention.

I claim l. In a phonograph, a sound-amplifying chamber closed at both ends and having a bottom of trough-shape in cross sect-ion and a flat upper Wall, the latter being provided with a sound inlet opening and with a plurality of sound escape openings, and a plurality of delectors each located in registry with and spaced from said sound escape openings to provide transverse apertures through which sound Waves are deflected transversely to the sound escape openings.

2. In a phonograph, a sound-amplifying chamber closed at both ends and having a bottom of trough-shape in cross section and a flat upper Wall, the latter being provided with a sound inlet opening, said chamber increasing in depth toward one of its ends, a plurality of tubular members projecting from said flat upper Wall and constituting sound escape openings, and a plurality of deflectors each located in registry with and spaced from said sound escape openings t0 provide transverse apertures through which sound Waves are deflected transversely to said sound escape openings.

3. In a phonograph, a member provided with a plurality of sound escape openings, and a corresponding number of sound delectors carried by said member in spaced axial registry With said openings and roviding transverse apertures through which the sound Waves are deflected by said deflectors transversely of the sound escape openings.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand.

RAMON RODRIGUEZ. 

